System And Method For Monitoring Services And Blocks Within A Configurable Platform Instance

Abstract

An improved system and method are disclosed for monitoring a plurality of mini runtime environments provided by a software platform. In one example, the software platform includes a core, multiple services, a monitoring component, and multiple blocks. The core is configured to interact with an operating system running on a device on which the core is running and includes the monitoring component. The services are configured to be run by the core. Each service provides a mini runtime environment for the blocks assigned to that service. The monitoring component monitors a current status of each service. Each of the blocks is configurable to run asynchronously and independently from the other blocks. The software platform is configurable to individually monitor any of the blocks for errors while the blocks are running within the mini runtime environment of the service to which the block is assigned.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A software platform configured to monitor a plurality of mini runtime environments provided by the software platform, the software platform comprising:
 a core having a monitoring component, wherein the core is configured to interact with an operating system running on a device on which the core is running;   a plurality of services configured to be run by the core, wherein each service provides a mini runtime environment for a plurality of blocks assigned to that service;   the monitoring component that monitors a current status of each service; and   the plurality of blocks, wherein each of the blocks is configurable to run asynchronously and independently from the other blocks, and wherein the software platform is configurable to individually monitor any of the blocks for errors while the blocks are running within the mini runtime environment of the service to which the block is assigned.   
     
     
         2 . The software platform of  claim 1  wherein at least a first block of the plurality of blocks is configured to change a status of the first block when the first block detects an error in the first block's operation. 
     
     
         3 . The software platform of  claim 2  wherein the first block is configured to notify a first service to which the first block is assigned of the change in status. 
     
     
         4 . The software platform of  claim 2  wherein the first service is configured to notify the monitoring component of the error in the first block by changing a status of the first service to indicate the error. 
     
     
         5 . The software platform of  claim 2  wherein the first service is configured to notify the monitoring component of the error in the first block without changing a status of the first service. 
     
     
         6 . The software platform of  claim 1  wherein one of the services is configured to monitor at least a first block running within the mini runtime environment provided by the service for errors in the operation of the first block. 
     
     
         7 . The software platform of  claim 1  wherein each of the services is run as a separate process from the core. 
     
     
         8 . The software platform of  claim 1  wherein each service includes a heartbeat handler that communicates with the monitoring component to indicate the current status of the service. 
     
     
         9 . The software platform of  claim 1  wherein the core further includes a service manager that maintains a list of all services running on the software platform and the current status of each service, wherein the monitoring component updates the service manager if the current status of any of the services changes. 
     
     
         10 . The software platform of  claim 1  wherein the monitoring component is a service manager that maintains a list of all services running on the software platform and the current status of each service. 
     
     
         11 . The software platform of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the core and a first service to which a first block is assigned is configured to:
 identify an action that is to be taken in response to an error occurring in the first block; and 
 initiate the action. 
 
     
     
         12 . A method for use by a software platform, the method comprising:
 launching, by a core of the software platform, a plurality of services, wherein each service provides a mini runtime environment for a plurality of blocks assigned to that service;   monitoring, by a component of the core, a current status of each service; and   individually monitoring at least some of the blocks for errors while the blocks are running within the mini runtime environment of the service to which the block is assigned, wherein each of the blocks is configurable to run asynchronously and independently from the other blocks.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein individually monitoring at least some of the plurality of blocks for errors includes self-monitoring by at least some of the blocks being monitored. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising modifying, by a first block of the blocks being self-monitored, a status of the first block when the first block detects an error in the first block's operation. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising notifying, by the first block, the service to which the first block is assigned of a change in a status of the first block. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising notifying, by the service, the monitoring component of the error in the first block by changing a status of the service to indicate the error. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising notifying, by the service, the monitoring component of the error in the first block without changing a status of the service. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12  wherein individually monitoring at least some of the plurality of blocks for errors is performed by the service to which the block being monitored is assigned. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 identifying an action that is to be taken in response to an error occurring in one of the blocks being monitored; and 
 initiating the action.